Catching Nature

December 13, 2018

Man Finds His Beat Fishing in DuPage Preserves

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Johnny Jannotti grew up with DuPage forest preserves as his playground. His childhood home was along the Illinois Prairie Path, giving him plenty of opportunities to connect to...

December 6, 2018

Naperville Woman Finds Peace on the Prairie

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Janet LawrenceNature explorer, volunteerI live in Naperville with my husband and have three young adult kids. My youngest just started his freshman year at college, so we are new...

November 30, 2018

Dog Drives Man's Connection to Nature

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Since childhood, Kevin Keller has always been drawn to the outdoors, through photography, fishing, plants and gardening and weather watching. 

November 15, 2018

How Nature Helped One Woman Find Herself

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Katherine HowardNature Whisperer

I grew up in Idaho and Alaska, so nature has always been up close and personal for me. My favorite childhood memories are entwined with...

October 18, 2018

Girl Power Conquers 60+ Forest Preserves

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Julie NelsonNaperville Mom and nature lover

My daughters — Olivia, 16 and Hannah, 14 — were about halfway through summer, and I felt we were in a rut. It seemed like each day they...

September 26, 2018

Woman Finds Way to Connect with, Help Wildlife at Willowbrook

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Vanessa Gallt always wanted to work with animals, and she found the perfect outlet as an animal care volunteer at the District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. She...

August 22, 2018

Volunteer Shares History of St. James Farm

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Kathy Isoda was drawn to St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville because it was an opportunity to be part of a new forest preserve, and she loved its equestrian roots.

August 8, 2018

Catching Nature Through Volunteer Work

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Bob Young has found the perfect outlet for his two passions: being outdoors and on the water. He serves as a volunteer zebra mussel monitor and volunteer ranger for the Forest...

July 16, 2018

Volunteer Finds Happiness Monitoring Bluebirds

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Helen Metanchuk rummages through the trunk of her car as she dons her vest, binoculars, tools and notebook and pen and sets out to check the 12 bluebird nest boxes on her route at